Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-29


THE NNEPfN - freely predicted it
CANAL would lie. And |
think YOU will admit that it is a pretty fair
city which our people have built on top of
the mud and above the ashes"
"Yes. said my friend, who was gazing
intently at the water a few feet below the
bridge, hut how is Il cIty like this drained'
Where do you get Your water"
Very natural questions these were too. For
reply TO the latter query. pointed to Lake
Michigan, no more than half mile away,
where the masts of many vessels and the tops
of two lighthouses were visible.
you get your water supply from the great
lake which lies at your feet, therei And YOU
pour your drainage into this river, and this
river empties into the same lake whence your
water supply comes! Queer taste you Chicago
ans have. Being a ProhibitIonist, l don't
think should like to live in Chicago
But | bade my friend reserve his sneers un-
til he had learned more. Taking piece Of
paper | threw it in the river beneath and
asked him to watch it He WAS presently
astounded 10 observe that the piece Of paper
floated slowly away from the lake
What he exclaimed, doesn't Chicago
river empty into Lake Michiganr
"No, indeed, and that simple fact explains
a good many things. Did you ever think
what unique engineering problem this isl
A city built a few feet above the level
Of a currentleSS river and a tideless
lake. Into the one the drainage must
he turned, and from the other the water sup
ply taken. Rut that piece Of paper there,
slowly floating westward, is the key to the
si.Iatlon. Ii happens luckily for Chicago,
that the divide between the Lake Michigan
water shed, and that Of the Gulf Of Mexico, is
but fifteen miles from the lake Through
that divide the Illinois canal was cut many
years ago to the Illinois river, which traverses
nearly the whole length of the state and
finally mingles with the waters of the Missis-
sippI at historic Alton This canal was Chi
cagO's salvation. By deepening its channel
she was able to change the course Of nature.
and send the waters of Lake Michigan trick
ling through canal and rivers to the Gulf of
Mexico In other words, audaciOus Chicago
has made the Mississippi river her hackdoor
gutter, and tie great gulf her crSSpool By
sending her sewage u the west and south she
keeps sweet and clean the waters Of the great
lake Gt her feet, and thus inSurrs the purity of
her water Supply. So You see, my friend,
that Chicago has in her time solved several
interesting problems. She found a way to
lift herself out OF the mud. she rose from her
ashes, and she has made the great Father of
Waters her servant. Chicago is no slouch:
that you're hound to admit"
Ny friend was amazei He, like "A good
many other people, had heard something Of
Chicago's drainage flowing into the MiSsissip-
pi river, but the case having never been
plainly and intelligiLly stated TO him, he had
paid little attention 10 it.
"Really,r he said, 4 am much Interested
But is this canal big enough 10 carry off the
drainage of all Chicago and virinity!'
NO, 1t is not, in its present condition. And
we now have a commission Of high priced
experts at work seeking the best means of en-
larGing the capacity Of the drainage channel.
1t is estimated that an expenditure Of three or
millions of money viii do it, and in case the
Hennepin canal is constructed it may he
utilized not only for floating ships from the
Gulf of Mexico 10 Lake Michigan, but for
carrying ChicagO's drainage in the other di-
rectiun. / think that If the truth were
known il would be found that ChicagO'S chief
anxiety to have the government dig that
canal lies in its desire TO solve the drainage
problem forever and ever. Chicago may Ee
bit selfish, as well as great. At any rate,
something must lie done. Even now encr-
nous engines must be kept constantly at work
pumping water from Chicago river into the
canal 70 aid the sluggish current in carrying
sewage away from the river. Chicago is
very careful Of her water supply"
But she is not really fond of water, is
,hef"
Fond Of water: Indeed she is, Why sir,
no CITY more So. The impression seems to be
general that Chicago only USES water to bathe
in and 20 put out fires with, but that is mis-
take. Chicago uses a greater quantity Of
water IN proportion to her population than
any .her city i'll the world. How much! a
very big lot. No less than 100, 900, ,OW gallons
a d:-y, or S5,0OO,OOOOo0 gallons in a year.
YOl. cannot appreciate the significance Of
such overgrown fgursi Then let me express
their meaning in another way Chicago's
water consumption s equal to l+O gallons, or